EDUCATION

Children try their hand at knitting
From Our Correspondent

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — As many as 288 students from 24 schools participated in the Aao Bune knitting contest (zonal level round) organised at the Tagore Theatre, Sector 18, here today. In all 12 students from each school participated in the three- hour on the spot knitting competition.

Previously 25,000 students from 118 schools from Ludhiana, Jalandhar, Chandigarh, Ropar, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib participated in the intra-school level hand knitting competition. The students from Class VI to Class IX were the participants.

The students were provided with knitting yarn and knitting needles free of cost during the zonal rounds. They were also given a free choice to knit anything. The mothers of the participating students were invited voluntarily to become judges. Three judges per class finally selected ten patterns from each class.

In all 240 best patterns from all the six zones (Ludhiana, Jallandhar, Chandigarh, Ropar, Patiala and Fatehgarh Sahib) will be displayed at an exhibition scheduled for February 25 at Guru Nanak Bhavan, Ludhiana.

During the exhibition the three best patterns from each class and category will be declared for the final prizes of Rs 5100, Rs 3100 and Rs 2100.

‘’We were really delighted to get such a massive response from the students as well as the parents for the contest. The credit goes to the teachers of the respective schools who have not let the knitting tradition die, said Mr V.K. Goyal, Chief Executive, Vardhman Spinning Mills.

The results are: Class VI — Sailja Sharma (Shishu Niketan School)-Ist, Inderjeet (GSSS Manimajra Town)-IInd, Shweta (Government High School, Sector 38) IIIrd;

Class VII: Preeti (GMSS Sector 40)-Ist, Manisha (D.C. Model School)-IInd, Harkirat (Shishu Niketan School)-IIIrd, Class VIII: Asha (GSSS Sector 18)-Ist, Vaishali (GMSSS Sector 38)-IInd, Shyna ( St Xaviers School, Sector 71 Panchkula)-IIIrd; Class IX: Ravinder Kaur (Government Senior Secondary School)-Ist, Aman Jyot (Guru Nank Public School, Sector 36)-IInd, Gurpreet (Guru Harkrishan Public School)-IIIrd.

Tiny tots sing their hearts out
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — Today was the opening morning of music days at Strawberry Fields — a kindergarten run by the Durga Das Foundation at Nehru Bhavan in Sector 24, it was a celebration of all things fresh, innocent and exciting in the growing pre-schoolers’ life.

Children of Lower and Upper K.G. sang delightful songs about their environment, relationships and things, which related to their daily life. A colourful backdrop pertinent to the songs and rhymes transformed the quiet ambience of the school library into storybook land.

The parents were thrilled to hear their little ones singing to Mrs Sheila Bhasin’s delightful piano playing. The tiny tots were confident, happy and articulate. Two songs from the “Sound of Music” — “Do-re-me” and the nostalgic “Edelweiss” — were much enjoyed, as was the action smart fast moving “Hokey Pokey”. Among the other songs, the children of Lower KG sang the well-loved “Billy Boy” and an amusing song about “The Clown”. The four and five year olds were quick to take their cues and synchronise completely with the piano notes.

Mr Parag Jain, SSP, Chandigarh, was a special invitee on the occasion. This week-long programme will conclude on February 16.

The children are indeed lucky to have set off on the long road to learning. The joy on the faces of the kids and the confidence they displayed was a pleasure to behold.

Little hands, big efforts
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — The tiny tots of Evergreen Academy, a preparatory school in Sector 34C, held their craft-exhibition in the Terrace Garden in Sector 33. It was a lovely sight to see the craft projects made by the little ones — their main subject being “Living things and nature”!

The entire show was conducted by students of LKG and UKG, who introduced their parents to the world of birds and animals. It was a unique way to lay stress on social development, as the parents were helping their kids to make interesting projects. The whole garden looked colourful with brightly dressed parents and kids, busy with their projects.

Their was a surprise in store for the staff as the parents of kids who got selected in formal schools, said thank you by presenting a big cake.

The person behind the show was Mr Kuljit Suri, Principal of the school.

CULTURE

British sculptuor labours to learn Nek Chand’s art
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — One must have frequented the internationally-renowned Rock Garden often, but there is something about this fabulous creation of Nek Chand which is still obscure to the public. That is one place of the garden which its creator has devoted exclusively for imparting rare skills to those interested.

The past two weeks have, once again, seen the place come alive with creativity. And this time on account of a British sculptor, Naomi Mcauley, who has flown all the way from Bristol just to witness how Nek Chand inspires life into cement, clay and concrete.

When The Tribune encountered Naomi at the Rock Garden this afternoon, she was busy fixing tiles on her latest Nek Chand kind of motif. “I have already created three, and I loved each moment of this activity,” said the 22-year-old sculptor who is working hard to imbibe fractions of Nek Chand’s skills. For Naomi, this visit to the city, and more precisely to the Rock Garden, was long due.

“I have been wanting to come to Chandigarh ever since I read about Nek Chand and his creation in the magazine titled Raw Vision. I was absolutely amazed, not just over his concept, but also over his persistence. I always wished I could know a little more about the man who made it so big despite the high tides,” she said, looking at her guru with an awe.

The guru smiled back and as he told The Tribune how well Naomi had been picking up. As Naomi fixed a tile on the motif, he declared, “Hai na mem trained?” Naomi could only look back in gratitude and talk a little more about how she got interested in Nek Chand’s personality. “I have taken time off from my fine arts course to visit India this time. And the most important purpose of this visit is to know Nek Chand more as a person and an artist of amazing calibre. When I came here I did not exactly know what I was going to learn from him. But I was so inspired that I felt like training under him.” Naomi has been most inspired by the waterfalls in the garden, as also by skilfully-created human figures.

After reading about the Rock Garden, Naomi got in touch with the Nek Chand Foundation in London and sought full information about its creator. Interestingly, her visit is not sponsored. She is bearing the entire expense. “I think it is worth it. Back home I was making sculpture out of recycled metals, but this medium is extremely challenging. Working with broken tube-lights, tiles, waste bangles, is just not as easy as it might come across. But with Nek Chand around, learning has not been very tough. I think he is brilliant,” she added.

Naomi has been in Chandigarh for about 14 days now, but she has not visited any other spot of tourist attraction. As Nek Chand informed, “She arrives in the garden early in the morning and leaves only in the evening. She is highly devoted as a student. I have loved teaching her.” Naomi is equally excited, not just about all the learning, but also about her return. “For then, I would have a chance share my experiences at the garden with people back home. I also plan to hold a slide show on the garden when I return,” she said.

As far as Nek Chand is concerned, he has been teaching people who have approached him with a sincere motive. “Last month I finished training some Army personnel. I have also had many foreign students off and on. It feels very good to impart training to others. I think that is the only way to grow, lest your skill should die with you,” he said.

He added that anybody interested in learning to recycle waste material is welcome to seek training from him. “Come to me and I will teach, I promise,” said the humble man who has done the country pride by creating a garden of international repute.

COURTS

High Court
Order on teachers’ pay cut quahsed
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, FEB 12 — Allowing writ petitions filed by 18 JBT teachers, a Division Bench of the Punjab and Haryana High Court today quashed an order issued by the state of Haryana and other respondents reducing their salary without granting them an opportunity of hearing.

In their petitions, Krishan Gopal and others had earlier contended that their salaries had been reduced from Rs 5750 to Rs 5450 in the Rs 5450 to 8000 pay scale.

Counsel for the petitioners had contended on their behalf that their pay scale was in accordance with the scale which came into effect from January 1, 1996, following a pay revision by the state government.

He had added that the petitioners had not even been issued a show-cause notice before the order reducing their pay was passed by the respondents — the state of Haryana, Financial Commissioner-cum-Secretary; Director Primary Education; and District Primary Education Officer, Gurgaon.

Pronouncing the orders, the Bench, comprising Mr. Justice A.S. Gill and Mr. Justice V.S. Aggarwal observed: “On this short ground alone, the petitions require to be allowed. Since the impugned orders regarding the pay of the petitioners result in civil consequences, before doing so, the respondents were required to issue a show cause notice”.

“Accordingly, the writ petitions are allowed and the impugned orders are quashed. However, the respondents may pass appropriate orders in accordance with law”, the Bench added.

Head teachers’ plea allowed

The High Court today allowed writ petitions filed by 36 head teachers seeking directions to the state of Haryana and another respondent for the grant of one grade increment on their promotion from JBT teachers.

In their petition taken up by Mr. Justice Amarbir Singh Gill and Mr. Justice V.S. Aggarwal, Krishan Singal of Yamunanagar and others had said the increment was not granted to them on the plea that they were already getting higher pay scale upon their promotion from the posts of JBT teachers to head teachers.

Arguing before the division Bench, counsel for the petitioners had contended on their behalf that the action was contrary to the law laid down by the Supreme Court of India.

Show-cause notice to HUDA chief

The High Court today directed the Chief Administrative Officer of Haryana Urban Development Authority Mr. N.C. Wadhva, to show cause why contempt of court proceedings should not be initiated against him on a petition regarding the payment of retirement benefits.

Mr Justice J.S. Khehar, however, granted the respondent exemption from personal appearance till further orders. The case will now come up for further hearing on July 17.

Claiming the alleged disobedience to be wilful, the petitioner, retired Assistant Estate Officer Brig Mohan Goyal, had earlier contended that steps were not taken even though the court had directed HUDA to decide his representation for revised gratuity and leave encashment.

SGJC pleas to be heard on March 12

Writ petitions challenging the notifications reconstituting the Sikh Gurdwara Judicial Commission will come up before a five-Judge Bench of the High Court on March 12. Another application seeking the withdrawal of a petition filed by a former member will also come up on the same date.

The petitions were referred to the larger Bench by a Division Bench, comprising Mr Justice G.S. Singhvi and Mr Justice Amar Dutt. Arguing before the Bench, counsel for the petitioners had contended that once the Commission had been constituted there was no provision for its reconstitution.

GCM declines to call 2 witnesses
Tribune News Service

CHANDIGARH, Feb 12 — The general court martial (GCM) trying Maj V.K. Madhan of 2 Rajputana Rifles today declined to summon two witnesses sought by the defence in support of its special plea challenging the jurisdiction of the court.

The court observed that the presence of the GOC, 14 Corps, Lt-Gen Arjun Ray, and the Brigadier, Administration, 14 Corps, Brig Ashok Vasudeva, was not required as the former had already endorsed his remarks on the GCM’s convening order as well as the charge sheet, while the latter, being a staff officer, was not the head of the corps’ Administrative Branch.

The defence wanted to examine General Ray on the contention that his role in the disciplinary proceedings, as per Army Rule 37, was statutory. Brigadier Vasudeva’s presence was desired because the accused officer had written several letters to 14 Corps HQ, and the defence had contended that Brigadier Vasudeva, being a principal staff officer, was the only competent authority to give evidence regarding their disposal.

The defence had sought to examine four witnesses in support of its plea. Besides the above-mentioned two officers, the others included Lt-Col Ramesh Ghai and Maj T.S. Sidhu.

The court has been adjourned till February 20, when Major Sidhu, who is detailed as the prosecution officer in another GCM, is expected to be available.